James Gitahi: Military Man Who Flew Presidents Moi & Kibaki 200 Times

Gitahi took over in 1992 from retired Colonel Hussein Farrah who served under Moi's era from 1984.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
May 21, 2023 - 14:03 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 21:58
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James Gitahi: Military Man Who Flew Presidents Moi & Kibaki 200 Times
Retired Colonel James Gitahi during his final flight on Friday, May 19, 2023 and Kenya's Presidential jet. /VIRALTEAKE

Retired Colonel James Gitahi flew his final flight on Friday, May 19, ending 44 years of an illustrious career in the aviation sector.

The pilot from the Kenya Air Force was only among few individuals trusted to fly a Head of State in Kenya owing to security reasons and Colonel Gitahi gained an impressive reputation as a pilot for flying two Presidents; former Presidents the late Daniel Arap Moi and the late Mwai Kibaki from 1992 to 2010 when he retired.

Gitahi took over in 1992 from retired Colonel Hussein Farrah who served under Moi's era from 1984. His notable achievements were the over 200 presidential flights he conducted while serving the two presidents.

Retired Colonel James Gitahi during his final flight on Friday, May 19, 2023. /STANDARD DIGITAL

During his four-decade career, Gitahi broke down the varying characteristics of the two presidents, with Moi being more outgoing and outspoken compared to his successor, Kibaki, a man with few words.

"It was a good feeling to fly the president.

"While on the plane, Moi was never seated on one seat. He would move around greeting different people. On some occasions, he came to the cockpit enquiring where we were," he described in a past interview.

Gitahi described Moi as hands-on, punctual, and generous as he would give the pilot and his team a token of appreciation. On piloting Kibaki, however, he opened up on his silent nature.

"If I look at President Kibaki, he was a quiet man, basically he used to read a lot of magazines and newspapers. We used to ensure that we have enough stock in the aircraft," he explained.

The man from Trans Nzoia county described his career as a fulfilling one having served the Head of States and being the first to fly the Fokker 70 Extended Range (ER) presidential aircraft.

After retiring from the military, he transitioned into a career as a commercial pilot. As Colonel Gitahi prepared for his last commercial flight, he meticulously ensured that every detail was perfect.

His military background instilled in him an inherent sense of precision and routine. Therefore, he had the privilege of using his last flight to share the experience with his family members including his wife.

Throughout his final flight, Colonel Gitahi commanded an aircraft he had been flying for the past decade, registered as "Five Yankee Victor Victor Oscar (5Y-VVO)."

This aircraft had become his trusted companion, accumulating over 19,000 flight hours. Its significance extended beyond being a mere machine; it represented years of dedication and countless memories.

As he made his last landing, he was received by Colonel Farah, his partner in the Air Force, and the two were part of the special squadron that flies VIPs. Notably, Gitahi received his training from institutions in Kenya and the United States.

Colonel Gitahi's journey in aviation began with a childhood dream to fly at altitudes above 30,000 feet. This dream led to his enrollment in the Air Force as a student pilot, where he had the privilege of being taken up for his first flight by Colonel Farah.

Currently, President William Ruto flies KAF 308, a Fokker ER 7 Executive Jet, which is estimated to be worth over Ksh2 billion and was acquired in 1995 to boost VVIP transport.

The aircraft is customised to the executive style and class fit for a Head of State, and despite holding a maximum capacity of 72 to 85 passengers, it can only carry a maximum capacity of 10.

The narrow-body, twin-engined, medium-range, turbofan regional airliner was made in the Netherlands and it is believed that its cabin crew is trained abroad. The value tag makes it considered one of the most expensive presidential jets in Africa.

President William Ruto disembarks from the Kenya presidential jet in Tanzania. /FILE

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